Thieves are believed to have used a hammer to smash their way into the shop in October.

They then helped themselves to irreplaceable and high value goods, including a Chinese silver vase with three stems, a silver tankard from the Georgian period, a silver Chinese basket with three birds and flowers on, a Victorian coffee pot and two bronze Chinese birds.

Damage after the burglary at Newcastle Antiques Centre

Shop owner Wenyan Sharp is horrified that her business has been targeted in such a way.

And the 32-year-old has been left feeling uneasy at the thought that the antiques were probably stolen to order, and that the culprits could have been watching her and her shop prior to the break-in.

She said: “I just couldn’t believe it when I saw what they had done. They must have hammered their way into the shop.”

Mrs Sharp was informed of the break-in by the owners of a neighbouring shop.

“One of the jewellers went to open his shop and they found a big hole in the wall of my shop,” she explained. “It was first thing in the morning and I was just getting my daughter ready when they phoned me.”

Some of the rare items which are missing

When Mrs Sharp arrived at the shop she found the burglars had selected some very unusual but very valuable items to steal. But they had ignored a cabinet of expensive jewellery.

“They are all very rare items they have taken,” she continued. “They can never be replaced. They must have been to my shop before and knew exactly what they were looking for. They walked straight past my very expensive jewellery. They must have come for these specific items.”

The burglary happened sometime between 7pm on Monday, October 27, and 7am on Tuesday, October 28.

Police are now appealing for anyone with any information, or who recognises the man in the picture to get in touch.

Some of the rare items which are missing

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “Officers have been carrying out extensive enquiries into the burglary and have being viewing CCTV and identified a man they would like to speak to. It’s believed the man may have information that can help police with their enquiries and officers are keen for him, or anyone who recognises him, to get in contact.”